We're swimmers not climbers
Did you know that hedgehogs are good swimmers? Check out this video of Phelps, the swimming hedgehog Even without the need for hydro therapy, people can often find hedgehogs swimming in their garden ponds or even pools. The issues occur when the can't get out!
Steep wet sides means that hedgehogs and other wildlife that enter or fall into ponds often can't get out and can end up drowning.
Join our social media campaign using art to showcase the impacts of our 10 things (in this case pond and pool ramps), on wildlife, especially hedgehogs - we are challenging everyone to take part.
Draw - Photograph - Sculpt - Act -Mime etc. and post on all platforms. Please tag @HogFriendly @SHkingstonuni and add as many different people as possible - ask them to make their own version and then keep spreading the word. Use #Hedgehoghelpers #KUHoglets #HHfacts on all of your posts so that we can try to find them.
Lets try to take over social media with #Hedgehoghelpers #HHfacts
Things that you can do to help with the problem
To help with this problem, either design and install ponds which have lots of shallow areas stepped into the deeper areas to allow animals to get in and out easily - lots of emergent vegetation can help with this. Shallow areas are vital design feature for wildlife ponds, as the top 10 cm tend to host the most wildlife in a pond. Guides like this one from The Million Ponds Project provide important information and guidance on designing ponds.
If you already have a steep sided pond in your garden, help by putting in a wildlife ramp to allow animals to get in and out easily. If your ramps float, you can help anchor them down on one side in using stones (which also increases the area where animals can climb in and out).
This is also important for any water features that you have that animals might be able to climb in easily, but then can't climb out.
Until next time
KU Hoglets
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